Man pleads guilty after alleged beating with club

COEUR d’ALENE — One of the men accused of breaking into another man’s home and beating him bloody with a club pleaded guilty to lesser charges.

Jeremy R. Guffey, 31, of Coeur d’Alene, pleaded guilty Friday to battery and unlawful entry, both misdemeanors.

Along with 26-year-old Coeur d’Alene resident Chance L. Preston, Guffey was originally charged with aggravated battery, attempted burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to commit aggravated battery, all felonies.

Guffey reportedly pleaded guilty as part of an agreement. The remaining charges against him were dismissed.

Judge Ross Pittman ordered Friday that Guffey be released on his own recognizance. He was previously held on $100,000 bail.

Police responded Dec. 16 to the Coeur d’Alene residence of a man who said three people had attacked him with a club-like device and threatened to kill him.

The man told police he’d argued with his ex-girlfriend earlier in the day. His ex’s adult son, identified as Preston, allegedly came to the residence after the argument, accompanied by two other men.

Preston allegedly entered the man’s bedroom and told him to leave the home. When the man refused, he said Preston began to strike him with a club-like device while the other men punched and kicked him. He said the attack lasted about 30 seconds.

The man’s face was bruised and covered in blood, police said. There were bloodstains on the bed where he said he was attacked.

Several hours later, the man contacted police again. He said the men who beat him were attempting to kick in the door.

Preston and Guffey were walking away from the back door when police arrived, according to court documents.

Police held the men at gunpoint until backup arrived. Both were arrested at the scene.

Guffey was previously convicted of aggravated assault in Kootenai County in 2014.

Preston remains in jail on $100,000 bail. He is scheduled to appear in court Friday.